| REVIEW ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2014 | Volume
: 3
| Issue : 1 | Page : 382-387 |
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Respiratory care therapists in chronic respiratory care: The need of the hour
Komalkirti Apte1, Sundeep Salvi2
1 Chest Research Foundation, Pune, India
2 Director, Chest Research Foundation, Pune, India
Correspondence Address:
Komalkirti Apte
Chest Research Foundation, Pune
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
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Chronic respiratory diseases are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality, not only in the world at large, but also in India. The healthcare infrastructure at present remains insufficient to cope with the present and rising burden of chronic respiratory diseases. Insufficient and lack of skilled assistance has played a key role in the poor management of cases of chronic respiratory diseases.
However, a second tier of healthcare providers, empowered with sufficient knowledge and skill sets for chronic respiratory disease management, can help in managing these patients better. Respiratory care therapists have made a significant difference in the management of acute and critical care in respiratory medicine. With chronic respiratory diseases comprising the greater burden, respiratory care therapists are in a position to make a greater impact in the management of these cases.
This article is an endeavour to highlight the growing burden of chronic respiratory diseases and a possible solution to tackle the issue with efficient disease management. This is an extensive, raw and untapped opportunity for respiratory care therapists; an opportunity to unite with physicians in making lungs the heart of their scope of work. Together with physicians, respiratory care therapists can create this much pivotal change in efficient delivery of respiratory healthcare in India. This will help improve survival and therefore ensure a better quality of life for patients suffering from chronic respiratory diseases.
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